India Welcomes Home Piprahwa Gems

A Sacred Return: How India Reclaimed the Buddha's Lost Jewels

After more than a century, a collection of holy gems thought to be connected to the Buddha’s remains has returned to India. The journey home for the Piprahwa jewels concluded after India's government and Buddhist figures from across the globe applied significant pressure to halt their public sale. The auction house Sotheby’s had planned to sell the relics at its Hong Kong venue. Godrej Industries Group, a conglomerate with its base in Mumbai, ultimately acquired the historically priceless items. This resolution marks a major moment for India’s cultural heritage. It also underscores a global debate about the appropriate handling of sacred artefacts. The jewels, once buried and hidden, will now be accessible to the public in a permanent exhibition.

The Astonishing Find at Piprahwa

In 1898, William Claxton Peppé, an English estate manager, supervised an excavation that changed history. He ordered his team to dig at a large stupa on his property in Piprahwa, a village in the northern Indian state of Uttar Pradesh. The location is notably in an area close to where the Buddha was born. Inside the brick structure, they unearthed the largest collection of relics ever found. The cache contained five soapstone urns filled with bone fragments, ash, and a spectacular collection of jewels. An inscription on one urn, written in the ancient Brahmi script, indicated the remains were those of the Buddha, enshrined by his own Sakya clan. This was the first discovery of its kind.

A Trove of Sacred Offerings

The unearthed treasure consisted of nearly 1,800 individual pieces. The collection included a dazzling assortment of pearls, sapphires, rubies, and intricate gold sheets. Archaeologists have called this a truly remarkable discovery for the modern period. The gems were not merely decorative; they were sacred offerings buried alongside the corporeal remains. In Buddhist tradition, items interred with the Buddha's ashes are considered sharirik dhatu, or corporeal relics themselves. They are believed to carry the vital essence of the Buddha. This belief transforms the jewels from simple artefacts into items for reverence for millions of Buddhists across the globe.

The Division of a Holy Heritage

Following the discovery, William Claxton Peppé handed over the majority of the discovered items to the colonial administration in India. The distribution that followed spread the sacred relics across the globe. The most significant items, the pieces of bone, were presented to King Rama V of Siam (now Thailand), who was the only reigning Buddhist monarch at the time. A number of urns for relics, a chest made of stone, and most of the gems and ornaments found were dispatched to the Indian Museum located in Kolkata, then known as the Imperial Museum of Calcutta. Other portions were allocated to temples in Burma (now Myanmar) and Ceylon (now Sri Lanka).

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From Colonial Find to Private Collection

Although the majority of relics entered public and royal collections, the colonial government allowed William Claxton Peppé to keep a portion of the treasure. He retained what were described as "duplicate items," a collection of 331 individual gems and gold pieces. For more than a century, these incredible artefacts remained with his descendants, largely hidden from public view in a private British collection. This portion of the historic find, though smaller than the museum's holdings, represented a direct physical link to one of history’s most significant religious discoveries. Its private ownership would eventually set the stage for a major international controversy.

A Family's Custodianship

For more than 120 years, the Peppé family were the custodians of their portion of the Piprahwa jewels. In recent times, the descendants, led by William's great-grandson Chris Peppé, began to share the story of the relics more openly. They created a website to present their research and the history of the discovery. The gems also started appearing in major international exhibitions, generating renewed interest. They were shown to the public at a Sotheby's venue in Hong Kong and were a feature in the "Tree & Serpent" exhibition at The Metropolitan Museum of Art in New York in 2023. These displays brought the relics out of obscurity and into the global spotlight.

The Decision to Sell

The Peppé family ultimately decided to transfer ownership of the relics. Chris Peppé, a Los Angeles-based film director, explained the family's reasoning. He stated that they had explored various options, including donating the collection, but encountered logistical and legal challenges with each possibility. An auction, he argued, seemed to be the most equitable and open method to ensure the relics were transferred to Buddhist hands. The family pledged to donate 50% of the proceeds to Buddhist institutions and to support the display of the Piprahwa collection held at the Kolkata Indian Museum.

An Auction Ignites a Firestorm

Sotheby’s listed the collection as "The Piprahwa Gems of the Historical Buddha" for its Hong Kong auction in May 2025. The auctioning institution described the items as having "unparalleled religious, archaeological and historical importance" and set a reserve price of around £12 million. The announcement of the sale immediately ignited broad ethical debates and fierce opposition. Buddhist leaders, scholars, and devotees from around the world voiced their condemnation. The central question was if holy items, especially those connected to the remains of people, ought to be handled as commercial goods.

The Core of the Controversy

Critics vehemently questioned the right of the seller to put the relics on the auction block. Art historian Naman Ahuja articulated the core of the opposition, questioning how the Buddha’s relics could be handled like artwork for sale commercially. Since the gems were interred with ashes and bone, many Buddhists consider them unable to be separated from the Buddha’s physical form. Therefore, the attempted sale was viewed by some as equivalent to selling the Buddha's actual body. The term "custodian," used to describe the family's role, was also scrutinized. Ahuja and others asked for whom the family held this custodianship and whether that role ethically permitted them to sell the sacred items.

A Clash of Perspectives

The dispute highlighted a fundamental clash of worldviews. On one side, proponents of the sale, including the Peppé family, argued that a transparent auction was the most equitable method of transferring custody. Chris Peppé’s view was that the gems were not themselves bodily relics, a perspective he said was shared by many practising Buddhists he had encountered. He described the academic argument to the contrary as a complex reasoning that contradicted facts and was not reflective of general Buddhist belief. On the other side, India’s government and many Buddhist leaders maintained the relics were an inalienable part of a sacred heritage and not commodities.

India Intervenes

Officials in India took decisive action to stop the sale. The Ministry of Culture issued a firm legal warning sent to Sotheby's, demanding the immediate withdrawal of the auction. The notice warned the auctioning institution that proceeding with the sale would be equivalent to "participating in continued colonial exploitation." The Ministry asserted that the relics were classified as "AA" antiquities under Indian law, which prohibits their removal from the country or their sale. Officials threatened legal action in both Indian and Hong Kong courts and through international bodies, citing violations of cultural heritage laws.

Diplomacy and Negotiation

Faced with mounting pressure and the threat of legal challenges, Sotheby's acted quickly. On May 7, the very day the auction was planned for, the company announced it was postponing the sale. This move was made to permit more talks between all parties involved. A week after that, Sotheby's verified it was in continuing discussions with India's government and the Peppé family, aiming for a solution acceptable to all. This kicked off a two-month period of intense negotiations aimed at securing the relics' future and honouring their profound religious significance.

A Unique Partnership for Repatriation

The breakthrough came through an innovative public-private partnership. The Indian Ministry of Culture collaborated with Godrej Industries Group, a prominent Mumbai-based conglomerate with a global presence. Pirojsha Godrej, who holds the title of Executive Vice Chairperson of the group, stepped forward to acquire the collection, ensuring its return to India. This collaboration was hailed by the government as a benchmark in cultural diplomacy. It showcased how strategic cooperation between public institutions and private enterprise can successfully protect and preserve global heritage. The value of the transaction was not disclosed, but the collection’s estimated worth exceeded $100 million.

A Philanthropic Acquisition

Godrej Industries Group, a household name in India, operates across sectors from real estate to consumer goods, serving customers across the globe, numbering over a billion. The company’s involvement was framed as an act of cultural stewardship. In a press release from the government, Pirojsha Godrej expressed that the company felt a deep privilege to be part of this significant event. He emphasized that the jewels from Piprahwa represent more than simple artefacts; they are enduring emblems of peace, empathy, and our common human legacy. This act of corporate philanthropy provided the crucial mechanism for the relics' repatriation.

A Nation's Joyful Welcome

Prime Minister Narendra Modi announced the relics' return, describing the event as a moment of great pride and happiness and a triumphant moment for the nation's cultural legacy. In a post on the social media platform X, he declared the sacred items were finally on their way back after 127 years. The Union Culture Minister, Gajendra Singh Shekhawat, personally received the relics upon their arrival at the Delhi airport. He described the homecoming as a matter of great pride for every Indian and called it among the most significant instances of repatriating the nation's lost heritage.

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A Symbol of Cultural Commitment

The successful repatriation was presented by officials in India as a testament to its commitment to preserving and protecting the nation's glorious culture. Prime Minister Modi emphasized that the return highlights India's deep and historic association with the Buddha and his noble teachings. The event was also seen as a powerful act of cultural diplomacy, reaffirming India's central place in the Buddhist world. It adds to a growing list of successful efforts to reclaim cultural artefacts removed during colonial periods, reinforcing a national policy of bringing heritage back to its origins.

Plans for Public Veneration

Officials in India have announced that the sacred Piprahwa relics will be formally unveiled at a special ceremony. Following this, they will be placed on public display. This will allow citizens and international visitors the opportunity to pay homage and witness the rare and beautiful artefacts for themselves. A large portion of the newly acquired collection will be loaned to the National Museum in Delhi for five years. The plan includes an initial three-month exhibition of the entire gem collection upon its arrival in India, alongside the relics already held within the Kolkata Indian Museum.

The Broader Significance of Relics

The Buddha, before his death, instructed his followers to collect his cremation remains and enshrine them in stupas, similar to the tradition for kings. This instruction began the cult of relic worship in Buddhism. The remains, described in texts as resembling "jasmine buds, washed pearls, and [particles of] gold," are understood to be magically formed from the cremation fire. These relics, both corporeal and associated objects, are not seen as mere memorabilia. They are considered to be imbued with the Buddha's vital presence, making them powerful items for reverence that connect devotees directly to his presence.

A Shared Global Heritage

Relics from the stupa at Piprahwa have importance well beyond India. Historians and Buddhist followers across the world view them as the collective inheritance of the Buddha's own Sakya clan and the entire global Buddhist population. The initial distribution of the pieces of bone to nations including Sri Lanka, Thailand, and Myanmar established a network of veneration that continues to this day. The repatriation of the Peppé family's collection to India strengthens this shared legacy. It reinforces the idea that these sacred items belong to all of humanity, representing universal values of peace and compassion.

A Precedent for Repatriation

An important international precedent has been set by the successful return of the Piprahwa gems. It highlights a growing global trend of repatriating cultural and religious artefacts that were removed from their countries of origin during colonial periods. The case demonstrates that a combination of decisive government action, talks between diplomats, and collaborative partnerships can lead to historic resolutions. For many nations seeking to reclaim their cultural treasures, the story of the Piprahwa relics offers a model and a source of hope. It signals a shift toward greater respect for cultural ownership and the sacred value of heritage.